Why Are the Eggs Smaller Right Now? Here's the Honest Answer.

If you've been ordering eggs from Dutch Meadows Farm for a while, you may have noticed something: the eggs you get in the spring feel a little smaller than the ones you were getting over the winter. You're not imagining it, and there's a good reason for it.

We believe you deserve a straight answer...

We Refresh Our Flock Every Year

At Dutch Meadows Farm, we raise a new batch of laying hens every single year. This is intentional. It keeps our flock healthier, the eggs nicer and shells stronger. But it does come with one natural consequence that affects the eggs you receive throughout the year: egg size.

Young hens, when they first begin laying in the spring, produce smaller eggs. As a hen matures and her body settles into its rhythm over the coming months, her eggs get progressively larger. By fall and into winter, our hens are producing eggs that are genuinely large, often running around 27 oz per dozen, which puts them in jumbo territory by USDA standards.

What the USDA Actually Says About Egg Size

Here's a quick breakdown of what classifies egg sizes, measured by the minimum weight per dozen:

We do not label or sell our eggs as "Large" unless they meet the federal minimum of 24 oz per dozen. We hold to that standard, no exceptions. If the eggs don't weigh in, we don't make that claim.

So What Does That Mean for You?

In the spring, when our young pullets are just getting started, the eggs may come in closer to the medium-to-large range. They're still incredibly fresh, still pasture-raised, and moved daily. The hens living the way we believe they should. But yes, they're smaller.

By late summer and into fall, those same hens have matured, and the eggs grow with them. Come winter, we're regularly packing dozens that hit 26-27 oz or more, that's Extra Large by USDA standards, and it's not uncommon for our eggs to edge toward jumbo weights. 

We'll Always Be Straight-forward with You

We know some of you noticed the shift and wondered about it. We'd rather explain it clearly than hope nobody asks. That kind of transparency is at the heart of what we do here.

The eggs are smaller right now because our hens are young and new to laying. They will grow. And by the time the leaves turn, you'll likely be cracking open some of the biggest, most beautiful eggs you've ever seen from us.

Thanks for being part of the Dutch Meadows family, and for trusting us with the Real Food on your table.

— The Dutch Meadows Farm Team